In her press conference on Monday, February 10, the president Claudia Sheinbaum recognized the increase in consumption of metaphawsso he announced that a campaign will be implemented to prevent its consumption of this drug that described as poison.
“The drug that has increased the most, according to different sources, is the consumption of methamphetamines. Now, after fentanil, we will go to a very important campaign for methamphetamines, which is also a drug that generates a lot of addictiona chemical drug produced, in addition, with a number of substances, we could say even poisonous, which generate many health problems, ” affirmed .
Experts consulted by Political expansion They consider that Sheinbaum’s decision responds more to a political pressure of the Donald Trump government, who has been incisive in his fight against synthetic drugs.
“All these campaigns, although they have a social orientation of public policy, also follow a political purpose. Today the political purpose of all security strategies and synthetic drug campaigns is to send a clear message to the United States that Mexico is an actor who is committing drug trafficking, not even the combat of violence and Organized crime, but to stop drug trafficking, ”considers Armando Vargas, coordinator of the Mexican Organization Safety Program Evalua.
Alejandro Ravelo, a researcher in the area of political incidence in Mexico attached against crime (MUCD), considers that, if the campaign is stigmatizing as those of fentanyl have been, it will have no impact against consumption.
“From the Fentanyl campaign a message of panic was replicated, which far from helping us, worsens the situation, contribute to the stigmatization of this population and are not contributing to reduce the use. This type of immense campaigns, where a lot of money was spent, do not work, ”he said.
(Yuri Cortez/AFP)
The public health crisis
Methamphetamines are synthetic stimulants of the nervous system and a derivative of amphetamines, which are used for medical treatments such as anxiety. Over the years, this substance has been placed as a high impact drug, even surpassing alcohol. It can be ingested, smoked or injected.
Figures on the number of consumers in Mexico do not exist. However, the Ministry of Health estimates the increase in consumption from the number of people who sought attention, with the proviso that only one in five people explores the possibility of receiving treatment.
“In the absence of data from sources such as national surveys, those related to the demand for treatment for psychoactive substances favor the understanding of the country’s situation regarding the most used substances among consuming persons. During the year 2023, 179,342 people demanded treatment for consumption of psychoactive substances in the National Network for Addictions, ”says the SSA report.
